Tuesday, October 28, 2014

My name is Rob Wilson and I am a professor of Art at Dixie State University and a volunteer board member of five non profit arts organizations including the Utah Mural Art Foundation of which I am the director. When I am not involved in the arts I am spending my time out hiking, jogging, playing outdoor sports, enjoying the beautiful weather and park amenities we have in Washington county. While arts and recreation are my life, I want to speak to someone who may be less involved and might not fully understand what this city currently has and will be offering in the future in terms of Recreation Arts and Parks.

Washington county is a major destination for tourism and recreation. Cultural arts are very strong and are continuing to grow as a major economic vehicle in this area. The RAP tax or proposition 3 is a public opinion vote that is going on the ballot which you may vote for or against on November 4th. This tax is a proposed sales tax on nonessential retail items and is one tenth of one percent or one penny for every ten dollars spent. One out of three pennies collected is spent by an out of town visitor. This voluntary tax voted for by the people, for the people, and for the future would generate approximately 2.5 Million dollars that is specifically earmarked for recreation, arts, and parks.

Being on the board of many organizations I am well aware at how much these grassroots organizations can do with just one penny, let alone 2.5 million dollars. Voting on the RAP tax is voting for improvements to non-essentials. It is true, we do not need cultural arts or recreation opportunities. But people live here because of those opportunities, and people move here for them. This tax is a voluntary vote to improve quality of life in Washington county.

Art Piece Created by Rob Wilson

Looking at the short amount of time our neighbors to the north in Cedar City have had the RAP tax, can give us a good indicator of where we could head as a city. Cedar city is building a new state of the art building for the Utah Shakespearean Festival and another state of the art building to house the new Southern Utah Museum of Art. They have increased public art and improved parks and trails, expanding a walking trail that runs through parks and scenic areas and connects the entire city.

Due to population and tourism we would have even more funds to improve quality of life for ourselves, our children, and our future.

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

There may not be such a thing as a free lunch, but you can win a free copy of Gadzooks! A Comically Quirky Audio Book on CelebrityCafe.com http://thecelebritycafe.com/contests/audio-book-giveaway-gadzooks-comically-quirky-audio-bookCelebrity Cafe has lots of contests that are open to the public. Enter to win all kinds of cool stuff from books to bath products. I've been amazed at how easy and fun this site is. Check out some of the other interesting things CelebrityCafe.com has to offer including news about the stars and other interesting, timely topics http://thecelebritycafe.com/Thanks, CelebrityCafe.com for sponsoring the contest to give away Gadzooks! A Comically Quirky Audio Book http://thecelebritycafe.com/contests/audio-book-giveaway-gadzooks-comically-quirky-audio-book

If I had to try and sell my
audio books on an international level, it would take a lifetime to
find potential stores to carry them, not to mention all the headaches
that would arise from trying to keep track of payments. With Amazon
Advantage, I don't have to worry about a thing. Once my products are
up on their site, Amazon does the rest.

I'm so grateful for today's
technology. It truly does unite us as consumers, allowing us to
purchase an astonishing amount of products which are quickly
delivered right to our door steps. Thanks, Amazon, for your great
service!

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

In the eyes of Nadine, a
polygamist and serial bride, nudging her husbands into heaven is a
testament to love. Even Nancy Neptune, a notorious shock jock, is
gobsmacked by Nadine's so-called “Celestial Send-Offs.” Things
go to hell in a hurry when Nadine offs the wrong guy and is charged
with assisted suicide.

Meanwhile, Blue McKenna has
problems of her own. A power outage has leveled Blue's medical
marijuana dispensary. Scottie Sphincter, lead singer of a band
called The Rectal Surgeons, is fingered as a suspect. Blue makes an
unusual discovery as she works to unmask the inscrutable Sphincter.

Using witty narratives, a
cast of nine actors transport listeners to Navel, Utah, a place where
voyages to the afterlife are done with God Speed. Cosmic mirth and
hilarity abound in Gadzooks! A Comically Quirky AudioBook.
You'll die laughing!

Tuesday, October 7, 2014

I'm honored to have P.S. Winn as a guest blogger today. Ms. Winn lives in Cedar City, Utah, where she keeps busy with her 17 children and 18 grandchildren. Winn says she's always wanted to be a writer, but didn't really begin her career in this field until 2012. Amazingly, Winn has penned 18 books (composed in long hand) since that time. Winn's 16th book is called "Lies in Shadows." Read on about what Winn has to say about this intriguing work.

The book "Lies in Shadows" is a supernatural paranormal thriller. I wanted to write a ghost story but not one that was just plain horror or like the TV series where people stand around looking afraid and doing nothing about it. In "Lies in Shadows" you meet Lucretia. She was protected as a child and even though in her thirties she lives with her mother. When Lucretia's mother dies Lucretia is conflicted. She misses her but at the same time she also feels a sense of freedom. When after her mama is buried and Lucretia sees her spirit things definitely change. Lucretia thinks mama may be mad at her, even though she didn't mean to help her mama find a quick way to the bottom of the basement stairs. Lucretia has one other problem, she has a memory block and can't remember a good portion of her childhood. I won't say any more about that as I don't want to spoil the story. "Lies in Shadows" is the story of a woman's struggle to not only find what lies in her past but hopefully what may lie in her future.

About Me

Adele
Park is an Audie Award Winning Author, Producer and Editor. Park
worked as a TV and radio reporter, news anchor and on-air personality
for more than 20 years. In 2008, Park formed Straight to Audio
Productions L.L.C. and opened a recording studio in St. George, Utah.